Nikuya Japanese meat restaurant set to open in Fortitude Valley

Natascha Mirosch

The lease was signed more than two years ago and the anticipation has been building for its opening. Now the waiting is almost over, with the last restaurant in Fortitude Valley's M&A building, Nikuya, slated to open in the next two weeks.

Owner Patrick Ip (who also owns Ginga and Bamboo Basket restaurants) says the name of the Japanese restaurant translates as "meat house" and refers to their speciality - wagyu and kurabuta pork.

"We will have around 200 seats with two different concepts," Ip says. "On the ground floor is an izakaya-style space where we will serve Japanese 'tapas' and main meals while a mezzanine floor has grills at the table for yakinuku."

A signature dish will be tonkatsu; breaded pork, made with the kurabuta pork. The restaurant, which has a bar on the ground floor, will also have a strong sake focus, both with its sake list and showcase of traditional sake barrels as well as Japanese beer on tap.

Both the menu and the decor will reflect contemporary rather traditional Japan, Ip says.